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After the great debate this morning, I had the opportunity, along with Kansas Ag Network reporter Greg Akagi, to spend some time with retired economist Barry Flinchbaugh. We began by asking what the biggest issues are facing the ag community. His response: climate change and healthcare.
“Front and center is renewable fuels and climate change and you can’t separate the two. And the question is global warming a hoax is a stupid question because the political system worldwide has decided that its for real and things are going to happen. The Supreme Court gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. So to pretend we can whip this, we being agriculture is ridiculous. We can’t whip this and we need to get inside the tent and help make the decisions.”
Although his comments on how current climate change policy will affect both America and the international communities are insightful, I wanted to know how the cap and trade bill would affect the profitability of farmers in America.
“I think we can come out a net winner but we need to refine the current law to do this.”
When asked if we can come out a net winner after adding indirect land use, the answer, “No. Absolutely not. And this whole indirect land use issue is a bogus, emotional issue.”
You can’t miss out on the full interview with Barry so listen to its entirety here:
The rain started at Burgundy Beef but were well informed on the all grass feeding of their cows and the complexity of the beef industry. We also sampled some of their meats and cheeses and had to brave the monsoon to make it back to our bus. The last stop on the tour was Beakley Farms, which is a family owned business that features cotton, wheat and sunflowers. We were unfortunately held on the bus for the majority of the time there but got off just long enough to peek at some of the equipment stored in the shed.
It was the Flinchbaugh-Stenholm show Sunday morning at the first combined session for the IFAJ Congress and the Ag Media Summit. A full house was entertained by the musings and mutterings of “The Great Debate” between former Texas congressman Charlie Stenholm and retired K-State ag economist Barry Flichbaugh.
The crowd had lots of questions for the two after their debate over ag and international trade policy, as did several reporters after the fact. It was interesting to hear the international journalists ask questions about climate change policy and animal rights activism. Our own Joanna Schroeder and Kansas Ag Network reporter Greg Akagi also interviewed them both. 
During an interview after his luncheon address, Drew DeBerry told me that he was not surprised with the reaction to some of his comments and the questions posed by the international journalists. “I’m impressed at the interest they have in our domestic policies here in the United States,” he said. “I’m encouraged that means there is an interest around the world in better understanding US domestic policies because we have to understand each others policies if we’re going to have fair trade.”
Mike reported on the further development of the 
With a free day before the real business of the 
Congress organizer Diane Johnson has been really busy today getting people to where they want to go, since this is her home turf, and she is doing a fabulous job! Many of the visitors, including those of us from the United States, can find a lot to do and see just on foot around the conference hotel. Downtown Ft. Worth is a very beautiful area with lots of local attractions like the Sid Richardson Museum featuring paintings and art of the Old West and plenty of wonderful restaurants. Diane says we have 700 people total for the IFAJ/AMS combined event, with 130 of them from other countries. 
It’s always nice to have a good working press room with internet access at any event where there are journalists at work and the 
As I sit here doing posts, I have been hearing many languages around me. That is why this is such a great event for agricultural journalists here in the United States to be able to interact with their colleagues in other countries. This is the first time in many years the Congress has been held in the United States, and the first time it has ever been held in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit, so it allows more of our IFAJ members to attend. 
The executive committee of the 
It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Ft. Worth today as our international visitors began arriving for the